Chapter 195
As night deepened, candlelight flickered in the Bamboo Breeze Pavilion, a side courtyard of the Su residence.
Upon entering the inner room, Sheng Xuan carefully settled Su Zhelan on a soft couch by the window, letting him rest against a pillow. Xiao Qiyun then turned and walked into the courtyard, calling Su Zhelan's servant in a low voice.
"Go fetch a basin of warm water, make it hot. Also, get a clean set of nightgown." Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and authoritative. "Be quiet, don't disturb anyone."
The servant was clearly used to the two gentlemen visiting late at night and giving instructions. Without hesitation, he bowed and accepted the order, then quietly withdrew to prepare. He soon brought the necessary items and then quietly waited outside the courtyard, not daring to disturb them.
Sheng Xuan tested the water temperature, soaked and wrung out the handkerchief, and returned to the bedside. Xiao Qiyun took the soft white silk nightgown, unfolded it, and waited to the side.
Shengxuan's movements were extremely gentle as she carefully wiped Su Zhelan's cheeks, neck, and hands with a warm handkerchief, washing away her fatigue and dust.
Su Zhelan closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly, letting Sheng Xuan serve him, his docility unbelievable. Then, the two worked together tacitly, Sheng Xuan helping Su Zhelan steady, while Xiao Qiyun carefully removed his clothes, which had been damp with the night air, and changed him into clean and comfortable nightgown.
After everything was tidied up, Su Zhelan was led to the bed in the inner room and carefully tucked in with a brocade quilt.
Su Zhelan nestled in the soft pillows, enveloped by a familiar sense of comfort and exhaustion, and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.
Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun stood side by side in front of the bed, silently gazing at his peaceful sleeping face for a long time in the dim candlelight. Only after confirming that he was completely at peace did they exchange a glance, blow out the candle, and quietly leave the inner room.
The moonlight was like water, outside the high walls of the Su Mansion.
The two stood side by side in the shadows of a quiet, deserted alley. The cool moonlight outlined the slightly hard profile of Xiao Qiyun's face. He suddenly spoke, his voice deep and clear, breaking the silence: "In the coming days, keep an eye on him." He paused, emphasizing his words, "Stay by his side at all times."
Sheng Xuan abruptly turned to stare at him, her brows furrowing as she tried to discern something from Xiao Qiyun's calm face: "What are you planning to do now?" Her tone was filled with undisguised skepticism and a hint of barely perceptible anxiety. "Crazy... don't cause any more trouble!"
Xiao Qiyun did not answer directly, but turned his face to the side, the moonlight falling into his unfathomable eyes, reflecting an unfathomable darkness. The corners of his lips seemed to curve slightly, a smile that was not quite a smile, making him even more inscrutable.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Sheng Xuan's anger flared, but he was helpless. In the end, he just waved his hand impatiently, as if to dispel the unsettling fog in front of him: "Alright, alright! I know!" He said gruffly, "Bye!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned around and strode off in another direction, his figure quickly disappearing into the thick night.
Xiao Qiyun remained standing there alone for a moment. The night wind rustled the corner of his robe. He glanced one last time in the direction of the quiet courtyard within the high walls of the Su residence, a complex and unfathomable glint flashing in his eyes, before turning and leaving silently, as if he had never been there.
For the next few days, Su Zhelan lived a very peaceful life. During the day, he would read books and tend to his herbs in Zhufengxuan. In the evening, Shengxuan would appear on time, sometimes bringing some novel trinkets from the market, and sometimes simply keeping him company as they played chess and drank tea in peace.
Su Zhelan was happy to have some peace and quiet, but occasionally when she looked at the courtyard gate, a hint of bewilderment would flash across her eyes, which she herself did not notice.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Eastern Palace was as heavy as iron. Xiao Qiyun sat alone in his study for three days, with blank memorials laid out before him. His brush, dipped in vermilion ink, hovered for a long time before finally not being used.
He needs to clear the biggest obstacle first.
On the evening of the fourth day, he finally got up, changed his clothes and tied his hair. His expression was calm and undisturbed. He only gave one order to his personal eunuch: "Prepare the sedan chair and go to the Second Prince's residence."
Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun's entourage was not grand; he arrived quietly outside the vermilion gate of the Second Prince's residence in a small blue sedan chair with several bodyguards.
Xiao Qiyun was dressed in a dark-colored casual robe with subtle patterns, without the crown of a crown prince. His hair was tied up with a jade crown, and his face was calm and composed, with only a hint of resolute determination hidden deep in his eyes. He did not glance at the kneeling servants on both sides and walked steadily into the room.
Upon hearing the news, the Second Prince hurried to the front courtyard corridor to greet him. Dressed in a crimson brocade robe, his face displayed just the right amount of enthusiasm and surprise. He cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, why didn't you inform me beforehand? I would have been able to make preparations and avoid such a hasty and impolite welcome."
His words were respectful, but his gaze quickly swept over Xiao Qiyun's clothes and the few followers behind him, his mind filled with doubts.
Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, his gaze not lingering on the Second Prince's face, but scanning the surroundings. His voice was steady yet carried an undeniable weight: "No need for formalities. My visit today is not a casual one; I have important matters to discuss with my second brother privately."
"Important matter?" The Second Prince raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, his smile fading slightly, a hint of wariness and inquiry creeping into his eyes. He stepped aside to invite the guest in: "In that case, Your Majesty, please come in. The study is quiet, perfect for a conversation."
The two walked through the courtyard one after the other, their shadows elongated by the glow of the lanterns under the eaves, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere. Servants were all kept several feet away.
Inside the study, candlelight shone brightly, and the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
The Second Prince personally poured a cup of freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea and handed it to Xiao Qiyun, his smile still on his face. He tentatively asked, "What important matter could possibly trouble you, my brother, to come so late at night? Is there any decree from Father, or something from the court...?"
Xiao Qiyun did not take the cup of tea. He raised his eyes, his gaze landing squarely on the Second Prince's face, directly interrupting his pleasantries. His voice was deep and clear, each word striking the silent air: "It has nothing to do with Father Emperor, nor with court politics. It is my own decision."
He paused briefly, then met the Second Prince's suddenly focused and questioning gaze, and continued, his tone calm yet earth-shattering: "I wish to petition the Emperor to relinquish my position as Crown Prince."
"Clang—" The Second Prince dropped the teacup lid, making a crisp sound as it hit the rim. The smile on his face froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place. His pupils dilated sharply, filled with extreme shock and disbelief, as if he had heard the most absurd words in the world.
Immediately, the shock quickly transformed into a sharp, almost piercing scrutiny that seemed to penetrate the pretense of politeness. He stared intently at Xiao Qiyun, as if he were truly getting to know the person before him for the first time.
However, beneath that shock and scrutiny churned a more complex mix of emotions. A fleeting, almost uncontrollable spark of ecstasy crossed his mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by deeper doubts and an indescribable irritation. He abruptly stood up, the movement even knocking over the teapot beside him, the warm tea soaking the expensive velvet blanket, which he remained oblivious to.
“You…” His voice was hoarse, sharp with a hint of offense, yet strangely suppressed, “Royal brother…do you know what you’re saying? Abdication? For what? Just for…that Su Zhelan?!”
He practically forced out the last few words through gritted teeth, full of disdain, yet also containing a hint of frustration that he himself was unaware of—a frustration stemming from the fact that the reason was too "light."
He took a step closer, his gaze intense, trying to see through Xiao Qiyun's calm: "So many years! Open and covert attacks, step by step! How much have I sacrificed for this position? And now you're telling me you don't want it anymore? For a man?! This is simply... simply incomprehensible!" His voice was full of anger, but beneath that anger lay something deeper—a sense of imbalance that his long-held goal, which he regarded as his life, could be so easily discarded in the eyes of the other party, and even a trace of shame and anger at having his own struggles denied.
Facing the Second Prince's almost bursting, complex rage, Xiao Qiyun remained seated, his expression unwavering. Only after the Second Prince's breathing had calmed down did he slowly speak, his voice still calm: "It is precisely because we have fought for so many years that I know that your desire for it far surpasses that of me."
His gaze was sharp as a knife, piercing straight into the Second Prince's heart. "Our talents are roughly equal. I am able to reside in the Eastern Palace only because of the Empress Dowager's influence. You know this very well."
These words, like the sharpest scalpel, precisely dissected all pretense, touching upon the core interests and the most hidden resentments. The Second Prince seemed to have been struck on a sore spot; his expression instantly shifted, a mixture of anger, embarrassment, and a hint of amusement at being hit where it hurt.
Xiao Qiyun continued, his tone carrying an almost cruel honesty: "For me, the position of heir apparent is a shackle, a responsibility I cannot bear. For you, however, it is a long-cherished wish. In that case, let each get what they need. You gain the empire, and I gain leisure and peace. It's a win-win situation."
The study fell into a deathly silence.
The second prince's chest heaved violently. He turned his back, gazing at the heavy night outside the window, his shoulders slightly tense. A fierce battle raged between the allure of ecstasy and deep-seated suspicion within his mind.
He admired Xiao Qiyun's talent, even considering him his only rival at times. This admiration made Xiao Qiyun's "giving up" at this moment seem to him not only as an opportunity, but also as an insult, or rather, as a realm beyond power that he could not understand, which made him feel irritated and uneasy.
After a long silence, he slowly turned around, the excitement on his face having subsided considerably, replaced by an extremely complex and profound expression. He stared at Xiao Qiyun, his gaze sharp as a hawk's: "You... are you really willing to give it up? You will never regret it? Do you know that once you abdicate, there will be no turning back?"
His question was less about confirmation and more about weighing the authenticity and cost behind the decision.
"I will never go back on my word." Xiao Qiyun's answer was resolute.
The second prince took a deep breath, the last trace of struggle in his eyes replaced by a complex mix of immense ambition, lingering doubt, and an indescribable sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions) about the final choice of his opponent. He tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing an expression that was hardly a smile, and said in a low voice, "Fine... fine, a 'mutually beneficial' arrangement."
He paused, his tone carrying a strange solemnity, "Brother, I... respect you as a fool, and... admire your courage." In these words, a rare sincerity was revealed.
He walked back to the table, sat down again, and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the surface: "This matter is incredibly complex, and what about Father Emperor..."
"I have my own plans regarding Father Emperor," Xiao Qiyun also stood up. "You just need to remember what I said today."
Their eyes met again, and the air was filled with the tacit understanding that a deal had been struck.
Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk towards the door.
As he reached out and pushed open the heavy, carved wooden door, the Second Prince's deep voice came again, this time without sarcasm, only with a profound inquiry: "Brother... for one person, you gave up supreme power. In your heart, is he... truly more important than the world?"
Xiao Qiyun did not stop walking. His figure disappeared into the night outside the door. Only a calm but weighty sentence drifted back with the wind: "The world is not what I desire. Only this place... is where my heart finds peace."
Inside the study, the Second Prince stood alone under the candlelight, gazing in the direction where Xiao Qiyun had disappeared, his face expressionless.
After a long while, he slowly raised his hand, stroking the edge of the teacup, his eyes surging with boundless ambition, as well as a distant longing for that kind of "peace of mind" that even he himself was unwilling to admit.
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